Reno hip-hop artist DeSaint releases new album

Jan. 27, 2011

DeSaint’s new album, “Flight Plan,” is available on iTunes and Amazon.com. / Provided to the Reno Gazette-Journal

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Reno hip-hop artist DeSaint has just released his new album, "Flight Plan," on iTunes and Amazon.com. It's the second album for the 18-year-old who now claims Reno as home, but said he's lived "all over the place."

DeSaint, whose given name is David Reed, Jr., wrote the music on the 18-track album himself and had producers help create it in studios in Las Vegas and Reno late last year. Although Reed said he's trained in classical piano, the urban beats on "Flight Plan" are far from classical, and mostly the music on it is programmed.

"Usually, I just sit down with a producer and start out with a melody," DeSaint said of making music. "It's mostly digital, through keyboards and drum machines." (He doesn't lean much on AutoTune, however).

With a father who works for American Airlines, DeSaint said he's lived in many places, including Miami, Orlando, Fla., Denver and Reno. But he said it's not Miami's musical stew that's influenced him, but rather traveling that's turned him into a songwriter.

"Reno's just a really nice place to get back to," he said. "Instead of moving to a bigger city, I just decided to keep Reno as a home base. I feel Reno's music scene is really starting to elevate. When I first got here, I felt there wasn't much support for locals in any genre. I think Reno's going to be a place where people can come out with their music and get noticed."

Earlier this month, DeSaint played on a locals bill at the Knitting Factory to a packed house, and his new single, "Wha Wha Wha," is getting airplay on Wild 102.9 FM. In May, he'll open for Ke$ha at the Grand Sierra Resort.

"It's crazy being in the studio and making the song, and then finally getting on stage and seeing how people react," DeSaint said. "I've always loved singing and R&B music, but my voice wasn't the best. My voice isn't like Usher. I'm taking voice lessons, and have been drawn to poetry, and I think that brought me into hip-hop."

DeSaint's upcoming live shows include 10 p.m. Thursday at Divine Ultra Lounge, 95 N. Sierra St., which includes a video shoot for "Wha Wha Wha," and on Feb. 18 at the Underground, 555 E. Fourth St. "Flight Plan" is also expected to see a physical release in February. Keep up with him at www.desaintmusic.com.